Auricular Neuromodulation for FESS

July 28, 2026 updated by: Daniel Katz, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Auricular Neuromodulation and Surgical Conditions During Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

In this blinded prospective randomized control trial the researchers will investigate the impact of cutaneous vagal nerve stimulation on surgical conditions in patients undergoing functional and ascorbic sinus surgery (FESS). The device is an externally placed vagal nerve stimulator. The device will be applied to participants after consent and induction of anesthesia. The study team will open the randomization envelope and if the participant is assigned to stimulation the device will be turned on. In the case that the participant is assigned to the control arm, the device will be set to sham. The device will remain on for 30 minutes and removed before entering the OR. Device will be reinserted in the recovery room for another 30 minutes.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is an important procedure for controlling a variety of sinus disease. Given the proximity to the brain and vascularity of tissues, good visualization is paramount. Intraoperative bleeding and obscure the view of the surgeon. In this study, the investigators will use a neuromodulation device that will decrease bleeding and lead to better surgical conditions during the surgery. The device used has already been studied in other bleeding environments. The investigators believe it will also work for this case. The study on Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) will focus on the use of an innovative device designed to control bleeding and enhance visualization during surgery. FESS, a critical procedure for treating sinus-related conditions, often faces challenges related to bleeding and poor visibility, impacting surgical outcomes. This study aims to address these challenges by introducing a device used in other areas that promises to revolutionize the standard procedure. The device for the study, the Spark Biomedical Sparrow Ascent Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (tAN) System, should decrease bleeding, a common obstacle in sinus surgery. This not only improves visibility for the surgeon but is also expected to lead to more accurate surgical interventions, reduced operation times, and fewer complications. The study will explore the efficacy and safety of this device, making a significant contribution to the field of sinus surgery and medical technology. This technology has been used in other areas, namely opiate use disorder, for which it has an FDA approval. The investigators plan to conduct a detailed investigation into the device's performance, employing a methodology that may include randomized controlled trials, adequate sample sizes, and comprehensive data collection methods. The study will assess various parameters such as the effectiveness of bleeding control, the impact on surgical duration, and overall patient outcomes. This research is not only significant for its potential to improve surgical techniques but also for its broader implications in patient care and medical innovation. By testing the hypotheses related to the device's performance and expected outcomes, the study aims to provide valuable insights that could transform the practice of sinus surgery, enhancing patient safety and surgical efficiency.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10029
        • Mount Sinai Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • ASA 1 and 2
  • Presenting for elective FESS surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Anti-fibrinolytic use within 30 days of enrollment
  • Known or acquired coagulation disorders
  • Hypercoagulable state, including morbid obesity and active smoking
  • Pregnancy
  • Blood transfusion with 30 days of enrollment
  • History of epileptic seizures
  • Presence of device such as pacemaker, cochlear prosthesis, neurostimulator
  • Ear infection
  • Abnormal ear anatomy which inhibits application of device
  • Presence of other significant disease or disorder which under the discretion of the principal investigator could influence the results of the trial or the participant's ability to participate in the trial

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Electrostimulation
Device will be turned on to send electrostimulation.
Device: Spark Biomedical Sparrow Ascent Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (tAN) System
The Spark Biomedical Sparrow Ascent Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (tAN) System is a single-use electrode placed on and around the ear which provides transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation (tAN), which targets the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) and the auriculotemporal nerve (ATN).
Sham Comparator: Sham - no electrostimulation
Device will be toggled to Sham so no electrostimulation will be given.
Device: Spark Biomedical Sparrow Ascent Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (tAN) System
The Spark Biomedical Sparrow Ascent Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (tAN) System is a single-use electrode placed on and around the ear which provides transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation (tAN), which targets the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) and the auriculotemporal nerve (ATN).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Boezaart Score
Time Frame: every 15 minutes during surgical procedure
Weighted average of perioperative bleeding by Boezaart Score measured every 15 minutes during surgical procedure Full scale is graded from Grade of 0 (clear surgical field) to 5 (severe bleeding). Higher score indicates more severe bleeding.
every 15 minutes during surgical procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants With Post-operative Nausea
Time Frame: during PACU stay, average PACU stay is 3 hours
Nausea measured by presence/absence at any time during Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) stay following surgical procedure
during PACU stay, average PACU stay is 3 hours
Number of Participants With Post-operative Vomiting
Time Frame: during PACU stay, average PACU stay is 3 hours
Vomiting measured by presence/absence at any time during PACU stay following surgical procedure
during PACU stay, average PACU stay is 3 hours
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Post-operative Pain Score
Time Frame: 30 minutes after procedure
Pain score at initial assessment in PACU before pain medication given, once patient in alert and oriented, at approximately 30 minutes after end of surgery, measured by VAS. Full scale from 0 to 10, higher score indicates more pain.
30 minutes after procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Daniel Katz, MD, Mount Sinai Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 23, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 18, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 18, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 25, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 25, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 28, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 19, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 28, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STUDY-24-00047

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Data and/or samples will only be used to complete this study and then they will be destroyed.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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